Water target amusement device

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a water target sport amusement device. The device consists of a target supported by an upright, the target being pivotally mounted relative to a support housing. The opposed players are positioned on either side of the target and throw projectiles at the target. The support housing contains a pair of angularly disposed opposed nozzles which are connected to a water source. The support housing also includes spray nozzle occluding means which alternate between an open and closed position relative to each spray nozzle. The movement of the occluding means corresponds to the movement of the target which is struck by a projectile. The target includes a control bar which moves the occluding means to alternate between open and close positions. If a player is successful in striking the target, the target pivots, opens the spray nozzle and sprays the opposing player. The spray will continue until the opposed player strikes the target with a projectile to move the target into a reverse pivoted position to close the one spray nozzle and open the spray nozzle onto the opposed player.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to an amusement deviceintended as a water sport competition game for two or more players. Thepresent amusement device contemplates that if a player is successful andstrikes the target with a projectile, the target is moved to a positionwhich will cause water to spray onto the opposed player and willcontinue to spray water until the opposed player can throw a projectileand move the target back to an opposed reverse position thereby to stopthe spray in the opposed players direction and open the spray into theother players position.

[0002] It is well known that there has become an increased interest anddesire to develop a variety of amusement devices which can be purchasedand used by the general consumer on home premises. This particularlyapplies to water sports devices for home use. The value of the amusementaspect of the device has been found to generally increase when coupledwith a competition as between opposing players.

[0003] The present device is intended to provide a competition typewater sport amusement device which may be employed either in amusementparks, or purchased and used as a home type amusement device. The gameis particularly designed to encourage competition between opposedplayers who are positioned on opposed sides of a target and utilizeprojectiles for moving the target in order to cause the game to proceed.

[0004] The interest in water amusement devices is well documented by theprior art. A number of amusement devices have been developed andpatented involving various levels of skill and requirements for eachgame.

[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,916 relates to a water amusementdevice wherein there is provided a base having a crosshead rotationallymounted thereon and having a pair of opposed free ends or rods toreceive rings. A source of water is connected to the device which causesthe rotational movement of the crosshead by means of the force of water.One or more players may play the game throwing rings and attemptingposition or flip the rings onto the upper free ends of the crosshead.The difficulty in playing the game resides in the fact that thecrosshead is constantly rotating due to the force of the water andtherefore requires the player to develop a skill in order to throw thering onto the upper free end of the crosshead.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,751 illustrates a water board game which isplayed with two sets of cards and includes a water sprayer which ejectswater on a player if the player fails to activate a manual switchaccording to the rules of the game. The cards are dealt to the playersand the player having the winning hand is then entitled to squirt thelosing player by removing a card from the losing players hand andsquirting the player with the number of times indicated by the indiciaon the card.

[0007] A more appropriate amusement device is shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,843,127. The game toy shown in this device consists of a centrallypositioned target which is provided with a water source. The target isrotationally mounted on a base and the opposed players, if played by twoplayers, assume positions on opposed sides of the target. Each player isprovided with a water gun which is intended to aim water at therotateable target. The object of game is for each player to manipulatehis gun and aim the stream of water at the target to cause the water jetto spray water at the opposed player representing the amusement aspectof the device.

[0008] Other similar water games are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,284and well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,372. The device shown in the '284 patentis played with an upright connected to a source of water which sprayswater at the upper end at a medial position. A ball on a tether is tiedto the top end, and hangs down such that the water emanating from themedial position will cause an erratic movement of the ball. The playersare provided with paddles and intended to strike the ball as the same isthrown about by the medial spray of water. The device shown in U.S. Pat.No. 5,855,372 is again a water amusement device which includes a targetcentrally located between a pair of opposed players. Each playerpositions himself in a hoop which is supplied with water. The amusementdevice in the aforesaid patent is rather complicated in that it involveshaving motion sensors, indicator lights and control valves. If theplayer successfully throws a projectile through the hoop target, thewater spray is activated on the opposed player and will remain so untilthe opposed player throws a projectile through the target to deactivatethe sensors and in their hoop, to activate the sensors in the opposedhoop in the opposed pod where the opposed player is standing. The objectis for one player to gain the advantage by wetting the other player asmuch as possible.

[0009] The present invention provides an alternate type of wateramusement device which again is played with a target, and is intendedfor players to be positioned in opposed positions relative to a target.The object for the amusement device is for one player to throw aprojectile at the target and cause the target to pivotally move in thedirection of the thrown projectile. That movement will cause a waternozzle to be opened which will spray the opposing player and will remainspraying the opposing player until the opposing player throws aprojectile back at the target in order to strike the target andpivotally move the target back to a reverse position which will thenturn off the water nozzle in the direction of that player, and open theopposed nozzle wetting the other player. The skill of the game isinvolved in each player having the accuracy to throw a projectile andstrike a target.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0010] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide awater amusement device which may be played by two or more players in acompetitive arrangement relative to the water sport game.

[0011] In conjunction with the foregoing object, it is a further objectof the present invention to provide a water amusement game whichincludes a target which is pivotally secured from an upright, andprovides a striking surface on opposed surfaces of the target. Thetarget is pivotally mounted to a support housing which includes a pairof opposed water nozzles pointing to opposed directions. The supporthousing also includes a pair of nozzle occluding plates which would moveinto a occluding position relative to the corresponding nozzle, and willshut off the water spray in that direction, while opening the opposednozzle thereby to cause a water spray out of that nozzle. The playerstriking the target will cause the opposed player sprayed with waterwhich will continue until the opposed player can reverse the target bythrowing a projectile at the target to reverse the spray.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wateramusement device of the type described above, wherein the entireamusement device may be encased in any number of coverings to enhancethe amusement feature of the device while nevertheless maintaining thecompetitive nature of the toy.

[0013] A further object of the present invention is to provide a watersport game of the type described above, wherein the device isconstructed of simple materials and eliminates any requirement forelectrical apparatus, sensing devices, or electronically activatedcontrol means. The present amusement device is entirely mechanical infunction and basically has simple parts while yet realizes all of theamusement aspects of other water games.

[0014] Further features and objects of the present invention will bestbe understood by reference to the accompanying specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In summary, the present invention provides an improved wateramusement device intended for competitive playing for two or moreplayers. The competitive nature of the game involves the ability of oneplayer to cause the other player to become as wet as possible whilestill involving a skill insofar as being able to strike a target with aprojectile. The invention consists of an upright from which a supporthousing is mounted in a horizontal position. The support housing has atarget pivotally secured thereto an extending downwardly therefrom. Thesupport housing includes a pair of opposed angularly disposed waternozzles which are connected to a source of water. Each nozzle is pointedin a direction opposed to a striking surface of the target. The supporthousing further includes a pair of spray nozzle occluding means whichwill alternate between an occluding position and a non-occludingposition relative to the corresponding spray nozzle. The target includesa control bar which operates the spray nozzle occluding mean andalternates in a pivoted fashion between an open and dose position. Thecontrol rod operates in conjunction with the spray nozzle occludingmeans such that when the target is struck by a projectile and pivoted inone direction, the control rod will operate the spray nozzle occludingmeans to open the spray nozzle in the opposed players direction, andclose the spray nozzle in the players direction who has thrown theprojectile. The spray will remain in place until the opposed player hasthe sufficient skill to throw the projectile and move the target backinto a reverse position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the target game having awater source connected thereto;

[0017]FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing a water amusement deviceincluding the upright, upper support housing, and target pivotallysuspended therefrom;

[0018]FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing a water amusement deviceconsisting of the upright, support housing, target suspended therefrom,and the spray nozzles positioned in the support housing, and the spraynozzle occluder's in position relative to the spray nozzle, with allparts shown in spread apart disposition;

[0019]FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the upright and uppersupport housing, and the manner in which the water pipe flows up thesupport pipe and interconnects with the opposed spray nozzles;

[0020]FIG. 5 shows the amusement device of the present inventionincluding a covering in the form of an animal, which enhances theamusement aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] As shown particularly in FIG. 1, the entire target game 10 isshown to include a support base 12, which carries and upright 14extending upwardly therefrom. The upright 14 has a top end 16 and abottom end 18. The top end 16 is provided with a support housing 20which is horizontally disposed in substantially perpendiculardisposition relative to the upright 14. The support housing 20 carries atarget 25 which is pivotally secured to the under surface of the supporthousing 20 and extends downwardly therefrom. A water source 22 isconnected adjacent at the bottom of the upright 16 through a water inletport 23 formed in the base 12 to accommodate the interconnection of awater source 22 such as a hose.

[0022] The details of the target game are clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3and 4 of the drawings.

[0023] As generally illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, theupright 14 has a hollow interior and is accommodated with a water pipe27 which interconnects with the water inlet port 23 at the lower end,and extends upwardly through the upright. The water pipe 27 extends upinto the support housing 20 and terminates in a pair of opposed waterspray nozzles 29 and 31 respectively. The water spray nozzles 29 and 31are angularly disposed such that water spraying from the nozzles 29 and31 will spray outwardly away from the support housing 20. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the support housing 20 assumes agenerally rectangular box like configuration, in order to accommodatethe water nozzles 29 and 31 and rocker arms 45 and 50 therein. Thetarget 25 is shown to be pivotally secured to the under side of thesupport housing 20 by means of a pair of support ears 33 and 35respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the target 25 is provided with a pairof hanging domes 37 and 39 respectively, which mate with the supportears 33 and 35 to pivotally support the target 25 from the supporthousing 20. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the target 25is pivotally secured by means of the hanging domes 37 and 39 fromsupport ears 33 and 35 via pins which are inserted through appropriatelyprovided apertures as is well known in the art. Furthermore, the target25 is frictionally pivotally supported such that the target 25 is notfree swinging relative to the support housing 20. Hence, when the targetis struck by a projectile as will be more fully explained hereinafter,and pivoted in the direction of the thrown projectile, the target 25will remain in that pivoted position until it is pushed in the reversedirection by a projectile thrown at it from the reverse side of thetarget 25. This provides the amusement portion of the game as again willbe more fully explained hereinafter.

[0024] It will also be observed that the target 25 is provided withopposed strike surfaces 26 and 28 respectively for interaction with athrown projectile (not shown) which will strike either one of the strikesurfaces 26 and 28 when thrown by a player.

[0025] The water spraying aspect of the target game 10 is generallyshown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings. It will be observed that thesupport housing 20 is provided with a pair of slots 41 and 43respectively which accommodate a pair of rocker arms 45 and 50respectively. With respect to rocker arm 45, it will be observed thatrocker arm 45 includes a front end 46 and a back end 47. The front end46 is shown to be operationally disposed adjacent to the appropriatewater nozzle 29. Furthermore, the front end 46 includes a spray nozzleoccluding surface 48, which covers spray nozzle 29 in its normal restposition as shown in FIG. 2. The back end 47 of the rocker arm 45 isprovided with a push bar 49 which extends downwardly therefrom throughthe support housing 20 and extends downwardly from the underside of thesupport housing 20. It will be observed that rocker arm 50 is similarlyprovided with a front end 51 and a back end 52 with the front end 51provided with a similar nozzle occluding surface 53 and the back end 52provided with a push bar 54. Each of the rocker arms 45 and 50 isprovided with a mounting aperture 56 and 58 respectively for pivotalmounting with respect to the mounting apertures 42 and 44 located insupport housing 20. The pivotal mounting of the rocker arms 45 and 50relative to the support housing 20 is easily accomplished by utilizingpins (not shown) which will extend through the appropriate mountingapertures in a manner well known in the art. It will also be observedthat the push bar 54 of rocker arm 50 extends downwardly from the lowersurface of the support housing 20 in the same manner as push bar 49 ofrocker arm 45. As indicated previously indicated, the support housing 20includes slots 41 and 43 to accommodate the rocker arms 45 and 50 suchthat the upper surface of the support housing 20 assumes a flatdisposition.

[0026] It will also be observed with respect to FIGS. 2 and 4 of thedrawings that the target 25 is provided with a control rod 60 which istransversely mounted at the top end of the target 25. The control rod 60is mounted such that the same is operationally positioned relative tothe push bars 49 and 54 respectively. As shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawings, the control rod 60 is securely mounted to the target 25 andwill pivot in response to the pivotal movement of the target 25.

[0027] It will be appreciated from a view of FIG. 4 of the drawings,that if the target 25 is struck with a projectile on its strikingsurface 26, the target will move in the direction of the thrownprojectile causing the first end 62 of control rod 60 to pivot down,while the second end 64 of the control rod 60 will pivot upwardly. Theupward pivoting of the second end 64 of the control rod 60 will pushagainst the push bar 64 thereby pivoting the front end 51 of the rockerarm 50 downwardly. The downward movement of the front end 51 of therocker arm 50 will therefore move the rocker arm 50 out of occludingposition relative to spray nozzle 31 and thereby allow water to sprayfrom spray nozzle 31 outwardly toward the player on the opposed side ofthe target 25. As was previously indicated, the target 25 will remain inits pivoted position since it is not free swinging, and therefore aspray from spray nozzle 31 will continue to spray onto the opposingplayer. If the opposing player is then capable and can accurately throwa projectile back at the striking surface 28 of target 25, this willmove the target in a reverse pivoted direction thereby causing thesecond end 64 of control rod 60 to move downwardly, while the first end62 of the control rod 60 will move up. Coil spring 68 will thereforebiasingly urge rocker arm 50 upwardly and back into its occludingposition relative to spray nozzle 31. Simultaneously, the first end 62of the control rod 60 will move up against and push against push bar 49thereby pivoting the front end 46 of rocker arm 45 downwardly, out ofoccluding position relative to spray nozzle 29 and allow water to sprayout of spray nozzle 29 onto the player on that side of the target. Itwould therefore be appreciated that the competitive nature of the gameplayed by two players is for each of the players to accurately strikethe target in order to pivot the target 25 to one of its' opposedpivoted positions. As is shown in FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, the supporthousing is appropriately notched as shown at 70 and 71 which allowswater to spray out to the sides of each side of the support housing 20.

[0028] It will also be appreciated that when the target 25 is in itsnormal vertical rest position, the first end 62 and second end 64 ofcontrol rod 60 are each in a horizontal plain, and out of contact witheach of the push bars 49 and 54 respectively. In this position, if thewater is turned on, the water will spray upwardly and will not strikeeither of the players. In order to ensure that the water sprays upwardlyin the normal rest position of the target, the nozzle occluding surfaces48 and 53 respectively may be shaped in a curvilinear fashion therebyensuring that the water will flow in an upward direction.

[0029]FIG. 5 merely illustrates that the amusement aspects of the gamedisclosed herein may be further enhanced since the entire amusementtarget game may be covered by a covering with an opening exposing thetarget to either side of the players. As depicted in FIG. 5, a blow upnovelty animal FIG. 80 may be installed over the entire game includingthe upright, support upright 14, base 12, and support housing 20. Thetarget 25 would remain exposed on both sides so that players are able tothrow a projectile aiming for the target in order to cause the target topivot and move, then cause the water to spray in a manner previouslyindicated. As is shown in FIG. 5, the area in which the water nozzleswould spray water is similarly open on both sides and hence, the entiretarget game may end up having an amusement aspect to it above and beyondthe game in and of itself.

[0030] I will also be appreciated from the above description that thegame may include any number of different types of projectiles. For thesafety of the players, a projectile may be a simple ball, or a bean bag.Relative ease or difficulty of moving the target will be adjusted duringthe manufacturing process by the nature of the projectile which ischosen to be sold with the toy. It will also be appreciated that in theevent that the projectiles which are sold with the toy are lost, thegame may still be utilized by the players by substituting any other typeof projectile which is available.

[0031] I will also be appreciated that the inner connection for thewater source to the fluid inlet port 23 may assume the form of a typicalhose connector in order to permit the user to simply connect a standardgarden hose to the upright. Hence, no additional connectors or otherdevices are necessary in order to utilize the game in the mannerintended.

[0032] While there has been described what is at present considered tobe the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciatedthat various modifications and changes may be made therein withoutchanging the inventive subject matter of the game. It is intended tocover in the appended claims all such obvious changes and modificationsas followed in the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A water target game for two or more players of the type including atarget for receiving contact from a projectile thrown by a player facingthe target and a source of water which will spray water on one player onone side of the target when the opposed player strikes the target andwill remain spraying until the sprayed player throws a projectile tostrike the target and move the target in the opposed direction to alterthe water sprayed to the opposed player, comprising in combination, avertical upright having a top end and a bottom end and being at leastpartially hollow throughout its length, a support housing secured tosaid top end of said upright and being horizontally disposed relativethereto, a support base at the bottom of said upright for holding saidupright in a vertical disposition, a water pipe extending up throughsaid upright and having an upper end terminating in a pair of spraynozzles angularly disposed in opposed outward directions, and a lowerend at the bottom end of said upright, a source of water forinterconnection to said water pipe at the lower end thereof thereby toprovide water for said spray nozzles, said support housing having spraynozzle occluding means associated with each of said spray nozzles andsaid spray nozzle occluding means being pivotally mounted to be movablebetween a spray nozzle occluding position and a spray nozzle openposition, a target pivotally mounted on said support housing andprovided with opposed strike surfaces for receiving striking contactfrom a thrown projectile, said target further provided with controlmeans operationally carried thereby for controlling the pivotal movementof said spray nozzle occluding means in response to the pivotal movementof said target when struck on one of its opposed strike surfaces by athrown projectile, whereby a projectile striking said target will causea pivotal movement of said target in the direction of the thrownprojectile causing a concomitant pivotal movement of said control meansto move said spray nozzle occluding means to open the nozzle facing thedirection of the thrown projectile and remain in that position until thetarget is struck on its opposed strike surface and cause a reversepivotal movement and reverse the pivotal movement of the control meansand a concomitant reversal of the occluded nozzle with the opposed opennozzle thereby creating competition water sport for players playing thewater sport game on opposed sides of the target.
 2. The water targetgame as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said spray nozzle occludingmeans comprises a pair of rocker arms pivotally mounted on said housing,each of said rocker arms having a front end and a back end, each frontend of each of said rocker arms provided with spray nozzle occludinginner surface which operate to occlude a corresponding spray nozzle inthe normal rest position and pivot to an open position in response tothe pivoting movement of the target, and each of said back of ends ofsaid rocker arms provided with control receiving means positioned tooperate in conjunction with said control means when said target isstruck by a thrown projectile thereby to pivot and move said target. 3.A water target game as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said targetcomprises a vertically elongate plate with opposed strike surfaces andhaving a inner end adjacent said upright and an opposed outer end, andsaid target being pivotally mounted at its inner and outer ends relativeto said support housing thereby to be pivotally moveable in response toa thrown projectile striking one of the opposed strike surfaces.
 4. Thewater target game as set forth in claim 3 above, wherein said controlmeans comprises a control bar having opposed ends and mounted on saidtarget adjacent at the inner end thereof in a plain transverse withrespect to said elongate plate and positioned to be in operativesynchronization with said control receiving means of each of said rockerarms whereby the pivotal movement of said target causes a concomitantpivoting of said control bar thereby to push against one of said rockercontrol receiving means of said rocker arm to pivot the same and movesaid rocker arm to an open spray nozzle position.
 5. A water target gameas set forth in claim 4 above wherein said control receiving means ofeach of said rocker arms comprises a push bar extending downwardly fromthe back end of said rocker arm and operationally positioned above oneend of said control bar whereby the upward pivoted movement of one endof said control bar will push against the corresponding push bar of saidrocker arm and pivot the front end of said rocker arm downwardly to movesaid spray nozzle occluding means out of its normal occluding positionand into a spray nozzle open position.
 6. The water target game as setforth in claim 2 above, wherein said occluding means on each of saidrocker arms is formed by a blocking surface formed along the inner frontend of a corresponding rocker arm thereby to block the flow of wateremanating from a corresponding spray nozzle.
 7. The water target game asset forth in claim 6 above wherein each of said rocker arms is in theform of a right angle bracket having the front end forming a spraynozzle occluding surface and a back end having a push bar extendingdownwardly therefrom and being operationally positioned above saidcontrol bar on said target and having a pivotal mounting point locatedbetween said front end and said back end, whereby the pivotal movementof said control bar will pivot one end of said control bar into pushingengagement with a corresponding push bar to push said push bar in anupward direction and thereby said rocker arm downwardly until saidoccluding surface pivots into an open non-occluding position relative tothe corresponding spray nozzle.
 8. A water target game as set forth inclaim 1 above, wherein said target is frictionally pivotally mounted tosaid support housing thereby to prevent the free swinging pivotalmovement of said target relative to said support housing and to permitthe pivotal movement of said target only in response to the strikingcontract of a projectile thrown against one of the striking surfaces ofsaid target.
 9. A water target game as set forth in claim 1 abovewherein each of said spray nozzles is angularly disposed and positionedto spray water in the direction of the thrown projectile when the samestrikes and pivotally moves the target.
 10. A water target game as setforth in claim 7 above wherein each of said rocker arms is provided withspring means positioned between said rocker arm and said support housingthereby to facilitate the biasing movement of said rocker arm into thenormal rest position relative to the corresponding spray nozzle whensaid target is static and occlude the spray emanating from saidcorresponding nozzle.